"...cannot be researched at this time"

[allan]

It seems that when the science advisor asks you what tech you want to pursue next, not ALL the options that are supposed to be available with the techs you have are listed right away. For example, I had mass production and guerilla warfare, but couldn't opt for labor union--had to wait till next time to opt for it. When I pressed "goal" and selected "labor union", it said "no technology leading to labor union can be researched at this time." Yet I had both prerequisites!

This was hardly the only time either--it seems this happens a lot, with early techs too: Code of Laws and Ceremonial Burial but no Monarchy available, Literacy and Engineering but no Invention yet, etc. The manual gives no explanation for this either.... Is there a certain system that determines which techs that SHOULD be available actually are, or any other explanation? What's up with this? It's usually key techs that I want, and was careful to advance the chain toward, too....
(I once couldn't get space flight right after rocketry and computers, either <IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/frown.gif" border=0> ).

[This message has been edited by allan (edited June 27, 2001).]

 

[SlowwHand]

Happens to all players, all the time, and pisses all off.
Who knows why? That's the pisser.

------------------
It's In The Way That You Use It
Tuatha De Danann Tribe
ICQ 51553293

 

[starlifter]

There is a mathematical pattern to it. However, I personally have never bothered to investigate it because I cannot change it; my assumptions from experience are that I'll often have to research a non-desired tech on the way to some of the important ones. I'd have done something like that, too, had I been the original game programmer, because otherwise, overall research progression might get too lopsided. Already, as some have pointed out in other posts, you can still produce warriors after conscription, given the right circumstance.

I have never observed a case of being allowed to research Space Flight immediately after Rocketry; however, that could be because civ II's response to my "typical" research pattern.

It is also not possible to research only the minimum techs to reach Monarchy. You'll have to research at least one "junk" technology along the way. There are many more examples, but those two are pretty obvious to most people, I think.

 

[Smash]

oedo's unfinished

 

[Thunderfall]

Daniel Konopac's Science Research Planner can reveal which techs will appear next based on your current techs. You can download it on this page: http://www.civfanatics.com/civ2utility.shtml

 

[Smash]

Does it work?

 

[Conditional Zenith]

It works for me. I think its a DOS program though and I hardly use it anymore.

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Conditional Zenith

you will only become strong if you obey the regulations

 

[starlifter]

Thunderfall and Smash -

Thanks for pointing the way. Although the link to the program does not work, I think it is the same DOS program that I later found from reading Oedo's thread in Apolyton. SlowThinker's DOS program is excellent, and allowed very rapid testing, which seems to be accurate.

A result is that I must modify what I said about not being able to research directly to Monarchy. In fact, if you have Bronze Working as one of your "free" starting techs, guess what? You can research Monarchy on the 4th tech, with no "wasted" research.

So if you want Monarchy quick, and you have BW... just reserch Alphabet, Code of Laws, Ceremonial Burial, and Monarcy will be available for your 4th line of research!

Thanks guys, and thanks to Oedo and SlowThinker for an astonishing amount of work in this area!